Outdoor Recreation Scheme
Funding for outdoor amenities in three tiers: up to €40,000 for small repairs and promotion, up to €200,000 for medium projects and up to €500,000 for large strategic ones. Separate project development funding helps plan a bigger one. Grants cover up to 90% of the cost.
Last checked October 2026
What it is
Funds walking trails, greenways, blueways and other outdoor amenities in the countryside, in three tiers with ceilings of €40,000, €200,000 and €500,000. Applied for by your local authority, a local development company or a state body, so community groups bring the project to them.
Who can get it
- The project is outdoor recreation in the countryside: a walkway, cycleway, greenway, blueway, trail, mountain access route or amenity at a bog, river, lake or beach
- You are a local authority, a local development company or a state body, or a community group working with one of them
- You can put up 10% of the cost in cash. Volunteer labour, donated materials and other State funding do not count towards it (the scheme covers up to 90%)
- There are three main measures: up to €40,000 (small), up to €200,000 (medium) and up to €500,000 (large strategic), plus a Project Development Measure to plan larger projects: a council can apply for up to €100,000 across its applications, a local development company up to €70,000 and a state body up to €50,000.
- Applications come through local authorities, local development companies and state bodies, so a community group brings its trail or amenity idea to them rather than applying directly.
- It funds new infrastructure and the repair, upgrade and promotion of existing trails and amenities.
How to apply
Applications go through DRCD. The official page has the full eligibility rules and the application itself.
Go to the official page →Checked against the official source on 20 October 2026. Always confirm the details on the official page before applying.
Questions people ask
How much can the Outdoor Recreation Scheme fund?
Three tiers: up to €40,000 for small works, up to €200,000 for medium projects and up to €500,000 for large strategic ones, plus project development funding to plan a bigger one: up to €100,000 across a council's applications, €70,000 for a local development company and €50,000 for a state body. It covers up to 90% of the cost.
What does it fund?
Walkways, cycleways, greenways, blueways, trails, mountain access routes and amenities at bogs, rivers, lakes and beaches, both new and the upgrade of existing ones.
Who applies?
Local authorities, local development companies and state bodies. A community group brings its project idea to them rather than applying directly.
How do I get a project funded?
Talk to the outdoor recreation or rural development section of your local authority, since they submit the application. In the 2026/2027 round, Measure 1 and the Project Development Measure closed on 25 September 2026, with approvals indicatively due in Quarter 1 2027. Measures 2 and 3 close on 15 December 2026, so ask your local authority now.
Related guides
- LEADER programme
- CLÁR programme
- Local Improvement Scheme
- Town & Village Renewal
- Local Enhancement Programme (LEP)
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